Making Snowshoes

A set of 85 photographs of Angus Tremblay making snowshoes in 1974. Travelling on the loose soft snow of the boreal forest would have been almost impossible without the development of snowshoes. -p01 to -p05: Angus Tremblay shapes the frame's side pieces from a split log and ties the ends together. -p06 to -p08: He puts in the first spreader and pulls the other ends in to give the snowshoe its shape. -p09 to -p10: Having put in a second spreader he ties the ends together. -p11: Notice how he notches the frame near the end to hold the ties secure. -p12 to -p14: The ends are made secure. -p15 to -p17: He then ties the frames together from one side to the other. -p18 to -p23: He carefully bends the toes apart and inserts a piece of wood to hold them in place until the shape has set. -p24 to -p28: Angus now makes slots through the frames with a wood gouge to fit the spreaders snuggly. -p29 to -p34: The spreaders are put in place. -p35 to -p40: Now Angus begins lacing or stringing the snowshoe with cord - originally strips of babiche, or raw hide, were used. -p41 to -p46: Small holes were drilled in the frame to thread the cord through. -p47 to -p51: Angus is threading loops of cord through the holes - the cross lacing will be threaded through these loops. -p52 to -p66: Angus continues with the intricate lacing of the front part of the snowshoe. -p67 to -p73: He now laces the back part of the snowshoe - note how the cord is doubled for strength. -p74 to -p81: He now moves on to the middle part of the snowshoe, which has a more open weave. -p82 to -p83: Notice the more open weave in the middle part that supports the foot, and the heavy cord support at the back of the foot hole - this is much easier on the foot and is flexible when walking. -p84: A finished snowshoe. -p85: Angus displays the beautifully-made snowshoes.

Historical note:

Photographs of Angus Tremblay making snowshoes near Black Bear Island Lake on the Churchill River, taken in 1974 by anthropologist Nick Bordeaux and captioned by Lois Dalby of the Academic Education Branch of the Department of Northern Saskatchewan.